Okla. officials to pay toll for soldiers' funeral

[douglas9]

LAWTON, Okla. — Two Oklahoma transportation officials will pay the toll for drivers in the funeral procession of a soldier killed in Afghanistan.

State Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley and Turnpike Authority Chairman Doug Riebel will pay the toll for an estimated 300 vehicles in the procession for U.S. Army Pfc. Cody Board of McKinney, Texas. Board was killed Oct. 4 by a homemade bomb.

Services for Board are Saturday in McKinney with burial to follow in Fort Sill National Cemetery in Oklahoma. The procession will travel on Interstate 44 — a toll road in Oklahoma.

Turnpike Authority spokesman Jack Damrill told The Lawton Constitution that he received about 150 phone calls — including death threats — after word spread that the toll cannot be waived.

The toll is $1.40 per vehicle — $420 for 300 vehicles.

n/t

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7250025.html

[tammywammy]

1. As they should, though this doesn't excuse death threats. n/t